Saskatoon challenges Regina to cut voter apathy

With a municipal elections across the provincenext week, a Saskatoon community group is trying to do something about voter apathy.

The group Lead Saskatoon is worried that turnout at the Oct. 28 elections will be low and hopes a friendly competition with another city could improve the numbers, spokesman Don Ravis said.

Lead Saskatoon has issued a challenge to the residents of Regina to see which city can get more people out to vote next week.

Voters go to the polls to elect a mayor, city councillors and school board trustees.

So far, there have been several acclamations and a relatively low number ofcandidates contesting the various seats, Ravis said.

"The other thing is there is no contentious issue in Saskatoon this time around," he said.

It is hoped the challenge will spur more people to vote this time around, he said.

In recent civic elections, voter turnout has hovered around 25 to 30 per cent.